Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily irritated or annoyed: Describes a person who becomes irritated or annoyed with little provocation.
   • Causing irritation or annoyance: Describes a thing, situation, or person that provokes feelings of irritation or annoyance.

Usage Examples

• Describing a person:
  • He was a nettlesome child, always complaining about something.
  • The nettlesome customer demanded to speak to the manager over a minor issue.
• Describing a thing or situation:
  • The nettlesome buzzing of the fly kept me awake.
  • Filling out the nettlesome paperwork took hours.

Advanced Usage

• "Nettlesome" is a formal or literary synonym for "irritating" or "annoying." It often implies a persistent, prickly, or bothersome quality, much like the stinging sensation from touching a nettle plant.
  • The nettlesome details of the contract required careful review.
  • She avoided the nettlesome topic of politics at the dinner party.

Variants and Related Words

• Nettle (verb): To irritate or annoy someone.
  • His constant criticism began to nettle her.
• Nettled (adjective): Irritated or annoyed.
  • She was clearly nettled by the unfair comment.

Synonyms

• Irritating: Causing annoyance or mild anger.
• Annoying: Causing irritation or bother.
• Vexing: Causing annoyance, frustration, or worry.
• Bothersome: Causing trouble or annoyance.
• Pesky (informal): Annoying.

Antonyms

• Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Soothing: Having a calming, comforting, or relieving effect.
• Agreeable: Enjoyable and pleasant.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To grasp the nettle: To tackle a difficult problem boldly and directly. (This idiom uses the related plant "nettle," which stings when touched timidly but can be grasped firmly without harm.)
  • The manager decided to grasp the nettle and address the team's poor performance.

Adjective

1. easily irritated or annoyed
   • an incorrigibly fractious young man
   • not the least nettlesome of his countrymen
2. causing irritation or annoyance
   • tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork
   • aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport
   • found it galling to have to ask permission
   • an irritating delay
   • nettlesome paperwork
   • a pesky mosquito
   • swarms of pestering gnats
   • a plaguey newfangled safety catch
   • a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him
   • a vexatious child
   • it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong